Process and apparatus for making a textile strand



M. MAYER, JR

Nov. 3, 1970 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 28. 1969 SUCTION MEANS INVENTORMAYER MAYER JR ATTORNEY I PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING A TEXTILESTRAND Filed July '28. 19es M. MAYER, JR

3 Sheets-Sheet z .FI GZ sucflou MEANS v v INVENTOR MAYER MAYER, JR.

v ATTORNEY Nov. 3,1910 7 M. MAYER, JR 3,531,249.

,PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING A TEXTILE STRAND Filed July 28', 1969r 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 3

ZSUCTION MEANS INVENTOR MAYER MAYER, JR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,537,249 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MAKINGA TEXTILE STRAND Mayer Mayer, Jr., New Orleans, La., assignor to theUnited States of America as represented by the Secretary of AgricultureFiled July 28, 1969, Ser. No. 854,340 Int. Cl. D01h 1/12 US. Cl. 5758.892 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a processand apparatus for making a highly parallelized textile strand. Moreparticularly this invention relates to a process and apparatus forelectrostatically aligning fibers, removing them from the electrostaticfield in an aligned state and forming a textile strand.

A nonexclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free license in the inventionherein described, throughout the World for all purposes of the UnitedStates Government, with the power to grant sublicenses for suchpurposes, is hereby granted to the Government of the United States ofAmerica.

This invention relates to a process and apparatus for making a highlyparallelized textile strand.

More specifically, it relates to a method and apparatus for making atextile strand from raw material within a single machine.

Still more specifically, it relates to a method and apparatus forelectrostatically aligning fibers, removing them from the electrostaticfield in an aligned state and forming a textile strand.

In the past the processing of fibers into a strand required numerousmachines to open, clean and align the fibers prior to spinning or strandforming. This system is very costly and requires the handling andtransporting of fibers in various stages from process to process. In anattempt to reduce handling and processing costs the art is presentlymechanically coupling two or more processes. Further cost reductions arebeing obtained by increasing machine speeds to obtain higher productionrates. In spite of these recent trends toward higher production, the lowproduction textile card is still a processing bottleneo Thoseexperienced in the art are well aware of the great need for a simplifiedprocessing system which would eliminate the textile card and reduce thenumber of processing steps.

The method and apparatus which is the subject of this inventioncomprises a single processing machine for untangling, individualizingand aligning fibers, and forming said fibers into a textile strand.

The apparatus comprises any suitable means for uniformly introducingloose masses of relatively untangled, individualized fibers into anelectrostatic field. The electrostatic field may have uniform and/ ornonuniform field gradients and may be produced by any suitably shapedand positioned electrodes. Parallel, cylindrical electrodes such asdescribed in US. Pat. No. 3,349,902, 1967 by Joseph I. LaFranca, Jr.,Mayer Mayer, Jr., and Heber W. Weller, Jr., have been found to produceexcellent results. Parallel, fiat electrodes also produce good results.The electrostatic field produced by the electrodes causes the fibers tobecome aligned parallel to the lines of force. The aligned fibers areremoved from the electrostatic field in said alignment onto the face ofone or more air permeable endless belts. The following will describe twosuch belts. Said endless belts are positioned such that a portion of thebelts periphery traverses within the electrostatic 7 field with thebelts faces parallel to the lines of force between aforedescribedelectrodes at or near the highest field potential. Said air permeableendless belts surround plenum chambers maintained below atmosphericpressure for that portion of the belts periphery within theelectrostatic field. Lower than atmospheric air pressure applied toinside surface of endless belts causes the aligned fibers to be suckedonto periphery of belt. It is an important feature of this inventionthat the alignment of the fibers be maintained while removing them fromthe electrostatic field. The aligned fibers, held on the surface of thebelts by negative air pressure, are conveyed out of the electrostaticfield by the traversing action of said endless belts. Once removed fromthe field the highly aligned fibers may be removed from the belts andformed into a textile strand by any means common to the art.

One, but not the only, embodiment of an apparatus for the practice of myinvention is described in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view showing the mechanical features of theembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view showing the mechanical features of anotherembodiment of the invention with my air permeable belt.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an additional embodiment of the inventionshowing two essentially flat electrodes.

Referring to FIG. '1, masses of tangled, disoriented fibers A are fedthrough entrance duct 11 into fiber disentangling and individualizingmeans 12. Said means 12 may contain any means well known to the art fordisentangling fiber tufts and producing highly individualized fibers.Said individualized fibers are discharged at opening 13 into the regionbetween electrode elements 14 and 15. Electrode 14 is energized throughconductor 16 and slide wire 17 and electrode 15 is energized throughconductor 18 and slide wire 19. FIG. 1 shows electrode 15 electricallygrounded and electrode 14 above ground; however, equally efiicientperformance can be obtained with electrode 14 electrically grounded andelectrode 15 above ground. The elfect of the electrostatic fieldproduced between electrodes 14 and 15 is to cause the individualizedfibers 20 discharged at 13 to become aligned parallel to the lines offorce between electrodes 14 nad 15. The electrodes may be rotated asshown in FIG. 1; however, it should be noted that either electrode mayrotate in either direction. It should be further noted that rotation ofthe electrodes 14 and 15 is not necessary to the invention and in factsaid electrodes may be stationary. 'Ihe individualized and alignedfibers 20 are removed from the electrostatic field by one or more airpermeable, endless belt assemblies. For convenience I prefer to use twosuch air permeable endless belt assemblies, 21 and 22. Belts 23 and 34of the assemblies traverse within the electrostatic field with at leastone peripheral belt surface parallel to the axes of the two electrodes.Assemblies 21 and 22 are symmetrically arranged into two independentgroups about an imaginary centerplane DEFG. For simplicity, portions ofthe following description will concern only one assembly on one side ofthe imaginary centerplace. It will be understood, however, that theassembly on the opposite side of the imaginary centerplane is locatedand functions as a mirror-image of the assembly being described.Continuously moving endless belt 23 of assembly 22 is driven by anyconventional means such as motor 24 and pulley 25. One shape but not theonly shape for the periphery of the continuously moving belt 23 shown inFIG. 1 is outlined by pulleys 26 and 25 and 27, and formed surface 28.It should be noted that surface 28 and pulley 26 may be constructed ofany nonconductive material. The endless belt 23 may be made of anynonconductive, air permeable material; I prefer to use a woven saranwebbing. A flexible belt such caused satisfactory results to beobtained.

A plenum chamber 29 maintained under lower than atmospheric air pressurewithin the belt assembly 22, bounded by top 30, bottom 31, and surface28 is responsible for the passage of air through that portion of airpermeable belt 23 within the region of the eletcrostatic field. Top 30and bottom 31 may be constructed of any suitable nonconductive material.The air velocity through the endless belt 23 into plenum chamber 29 isof suflicient force to overcome electrostatic force and consequentlypulls the aligned fibers onto the periphery of air permeable, endlessbelt 23. The partial vacuum within plenum chamber 29 is provided by anysuction means common to the art through ducts .32 and 33. It is animportant featureof this invention that the said individualized andaligned fibers 20 maintain their alignment when pulled onto endless belt23. The motion of the endless belt causes the aligned fibers on the beltperiphery to move away from the outer edge of the electrodes andelectrostatic field into the centerplane. At this point the fibers onbelts 23 of belt assembly 21 meet the fibers on belt 34 of belt assembly22 where they follow a path along the imaginary centerplane DEFG so asto move the aligned fibers 20 out of the electrostatic filed. It isimportant to the function of this invention that there be sufiicientpressure, by any convenional means, between belt assemblies 21 and 22 tomaintain the original fiber alignment as fibers 20. At 35 where movementof belts 23 and 34 changes from the same direction to opposing directionthe aligned fibers 36 are initially removed from the belts 23 and 34 byany method common to the art such as a seeding yarn not shown. Fibersare subsequenfly made into a textile strand 37 by any means 38 common tothe art for compacting or spinning into said strand 37.

Referring to FIG. 2, masses of tangled, disoriented fibers B are fedthrough entrance duct 11 into fiber disentangling and individualizingmeans 12.

Said means 12 may contain any means well known to the art fordisentangling fiber tufts and producing highly individualized fibers 20.Said individualized fibers 20 are discharged at opening 13 into theregion between electrode elements 14 and 15. Electrode 14 is energizedthrough conductor 16 and slide wire 17 and electrode is energizedthrough conductor -18 and slide wire 19. FIG. 2 shows electrode 15electrically grounded and electrode 14 above ground. However, equallyeflicient performance can be obtained with electrode 14 electricallyground and electrode 15 above ground. The effect of the electrostaticfield produced between electrodes 14 and 15 is to cause theindividualized fibers 20 discharged at 13 to become aligned parallel tothe lines of force between electrodes 14 and 15. The electrodes may berotated as shown in FIG. 2; however, it should be noted that eitherelectrode may rotate in either direction. It should be further notedthat rotation of the electrodes 14 and 15 is not necessary to theinvention and in fact said electrodes may be stationary.

The individualized and aligned fibers 20 are removed from theelectrostatic field by the air-permeable, endless belt assembly 121.Belt 123 of the assembly 121, traverses within the electrostatic fieldwith at least one peripheral belt surface parallel to the axes of thetwo electrodes. Continuously moving endless belt 123 of assembly 121 isdriven by an conventional means such as motor 124 and pulley 125. Oneshape but not the only shape for the periphery of the continuouslymoving belt 123 shown in FIG. 2 is outlined by pulleys 126 and 125. Itshould be noted that pulleys 126 and 125 may be constructed of anyconductive or nonconductive material. The endless belt 123 may be madeof any nonconductive, air-permeable material.

A plenum chamber 129 maintained lower than atmospheric air pressurewithin the belt assembly 121, bounded by top 130, bottom 131, andsurface 128 is responsible for the passage of air through that portionof air-permeable belt 123 within the region of the electrostatic field.Top

4 and bottom 131 may be constructed with any suitable nonconductivematerial. The air velocity through the endless belt 123 into plenumchamber 129 is of sufiicient force to overcome electrostatic force andconsequently pulls the aligned fibers onto the periphery ofair-permeable, endless belt 123. The partial vacuum within plenumchamber 129 is provided by any suction means common to the art throughduct 132. It is an important feature of this invention that the saidindividualized and aligned fibers 20 maintain their alignment whenpulled on endless belt 123. The motion of the endless belt causes thealigned fibers on the belt periphery to move away from the electrodesand electrostatic field. Said aligned fibers 20 r moved from saidelectrostatic field and held in an aligned state on endless belt 123 bypartial vacuum within plenum chamber 129 are initially removed fromendless belt 123 by any means common to the art such as a seeding yarnnot shown. Aligned fibers 36 removed from endless belt 123 aresubsequently made into a textile strand 37 by any means 38 common to theart for compacting or spinning into said strand 37.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for removing textile fibers from an electrostaticfieldas a parallel oriented strand which comprises:

(a) a first endless nonconductive air-permeable belt and a secondendless nonconductive air-permeable belt, said first air-permeable beltand said second air-permeable belt with directionally opposed travel;said belts in combination extending in width between the electrodes ofan electrostatic field and said belts with opposed convergent travelmoving in a direction parallel to the surface of the electrodes andperpendicular to the lines of force and through the said field;

(b) said first air-permeable belt traversing the periphery of anonconductive assembly which assembly provides one substantially flatperipheral side extending in width a portion of the distance betweensaid electrodes located substantially along the region of the highestfield intensity and parallel to the lines of force of said field andsaid first air-permeable belt pro vided with at least one substantiallyflat peripheral side directed outwards from the field, with the outsidesurface of said outwardly directed side operating in surface contactwith and moving at the same surface speed as the counterpart portion ofsaid second airpermeable belt of substantially the same width as saidfirst air-permeable belt; said second air-permeable belt traversing theperiphery of a nonconductive assembly which assembly provides onesubstantially flat peripheral side extending in width to cover theremaining portions of said electrodes located substantially along theregion of the highest field intensity and parallel to the lines of forceof said field;

(0) means for moving the parallel and oriented fibers within the highfield intensity region of the electrostatic field into parallel andoriented contact with and holding said fibers in parallel and orientedcondition on the air-permeable belts while said belts move through andout of the region of high field intensity, said means consisting of anair current drawn through said air-permeable belts and into thenonconductive assembly by any conventional air moving d'evice;

(d) means for driving the endless air-permeable belts around theperiphery of the nonconductive assembly in the direction from theperipheral side located between the electrodes toward the peripheralside directed outwards from the field so that fibers held onto saidair-permeable belts in parallel and oriented condition are transportedoutwards from the field perpendicular to the axes of said fiberswhereupon said fibers are withdrawn lengthwise from between saidair-permeable belts and formed into a textile strand by conventionalmeans.

around the periphery of the nonconductive assembly in the direction fromthe peripheral side located between the electrodes toward the peripheralside direct- (a) an endless noncond'uctive air-permeable belt extendingin width between the electrodes of an eleced outwards from the field sothat fibers held onto said air-permeable belt in parallel and orientedcontrostatic field and said belt moving in a direction 5 dition aretransported outwards from the field perparallel to the surface of theelectrodes and perpenpendicular to the axes of said fibers whereuponsaid dicular to the lines of force and through the said fibers arewithdrawn lengthwise from between said field; air-permeable belt andformed into a textile strand (b) said air-permeable belt traversing theperiphery of 10 by any conventhional means.

an assembly which assembly provides one substantially fiat peripheralside extending in width the distance between said electrodes locatedsubstantially along the region of the highest intensity and parallelReferences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS to the lines of force of saidfield and said airg g fi permeable belt provided with at least onesubstantially 2529674 11/1950 ig e t fiat peripheral side directedoutwards from the field, 3003911 10/1961 e a 5"" 7 58 89 (0) means formoving the parallel and oriented fibers m mm e within the high fieldintensity region of the electrostatic field into parallel and orientedcontact with 936 6 g/l ggf ti if i rea r1 am.

and holding said fibers in parallel and oriented condition on theair-permeable belt while said belt moves through and out of the regionof high field intensity, said means consisting of an air current drawnthrough said air-permeable belt and into the nonconductive assembly byany conventional air moving device;

(d) means for driving the endless air-permeable belt JOHN PETRAKES,Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 5777.4

